Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Needlework Tuesday - I finished something!!!!

Needlework Tuesday is an occasional post detailing my needlework and/or crafting projects.

I've got quite a few updates this week, so I better get started.

I love starting new projects, but for some reason they don't always get finished. I'm glad to report that that's not the case this week. I finished the pink entrelac baby blanket!! Yay me! I decided to go with the crocheted edge: one row each of single, double, and treble. Here's a close up of the edge:

Here's a shot of the finished blanket:


The border isn't perfect and will probably never lay completely flat unless it's really stretched out. However, I noticed that blanket and border in the project photo are a little wonky as well, so I'm blaming it on the entrelac technique.  It doesn't produce a nice clean edge on which to build a border. I think I did the best I could, especially since I'm still learning to crochet and I didn't have any instructions to follow.

A few weeks ago, I was working on a hat/fingerless mitts combo made out of sock yarn. I finished the hat and one of the mitts. Yay me, again!!!


I still have another hat (one fits inside the other to make is extra warm) and mitt to make, but since the hat is totally wearable as is, I'm counting this an another finish.   More on this later.

Last week, I was fighting with the Triangle Wrap from the Mary Maxim's Knit Club of the Month. I'm happy to report that I started again and it's going much better.


I started using the life line technique suggested by Heather as evidenced by the contrasting threads. For the time being, I left all of them in. However, once I start working on it again, I'll remove all but the current one.  I also looked into using another stitch marker or two to mark the centre section as Kate suggested, but after carefully studying the pattern I realized that there's really only one stitch in the centre and it's already marked.  It confused me at first because there's lots of increasing in this wrap...both on the ends and in the centre.   Thanks for both of these suggestions.

Lastly, Mary Maxim had a sale a couple of weeks back, so I ordered myself a poncho that I was eyeing in the catalogue. I started it, but haven't gotten very far. Here's the project photo and my colour choice (dark blue/green):

I didn't notice the type of yarn in the project until it showed up on my door step. That was extremely silly of me because in the past (many, many, many years ago) I've had allergic reactions to some animal fibres. I don't know if that's still the case because apparently not all allergies are for life. This one is an alpaca blend and I immediately noticed the texture and a slight smell when I opened the package. Not having spent any time around alpacas or llamas or their by-products, I don't know for sure if it's going to bother me. Fingers crossed.

This week, I'm going to take a look at another abandoned project, a spring wreath from Mary Maxim's Knit Club of the Month that showed up sometime last year. It's not my style at all, but since I don't have any plans to use the brightly coloured yarn elsewhere, I'm going to work make the wreath and see if it'll grow on me.  If not, it'll end up in the donation pile.


Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather over at Books and Quilts.    If you'd done any crafting this week that you'd like to share with others, please head over to Heather's blog and use the Mr. Linky to link up your post, so others can enjoy your creations. 

2 comments:

  1. wow, you certainly have been busy, perhaps the cold weather is keeping you inside.

    The pink border really brings out the pink in the blanket. I'd say you have mastered the entrelac technique.

    with the mitt and hat, it's interesting how the repeats in the wool look different depending on the number of stitches in the garment. They are looking great.

    The shawl is looking better. Glad that the lifeline is helping.
    We'll count the earlier versions as practice.

    Thanks for linking up with Needlework Tuesday.

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  2. I am not sure what yarn you used for your entrelac baby blanket, but a light steaming might help it to lie flat, if that is the look you want. It turned out beautifully.
    You hat and mitt are cute, too. Maybe you could keep the other hand in your pocket. ;-)

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